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<h1>Paths <img src="images/paths1.jpg"></h1>


<p>A path is an <a href="objects.htm">object</a> that defines a path or trajectory in space. It can be used for various tasks as illustrated in following figures: <br>
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<p align=center><img src="images/paths2.jpg"></p>
<p class=imageLabel>[Path object examples for (a) end-effector guidance, (b) path planning, (c) caterpillar simulation, (d) track simulation, (e) escalator simulation]</p>
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<p>Path objects can be added to the <a href="scenes.htm">scene</a> with [Menu bar --&gt; Add --&gt; Path]. Two basic paths are available by default: a simple segment-type path, or a circle-type path. They can be oriented or scaled, but oftentimes this is not enough. The user has several alternatives to generate customized path objects:</p>

<li><a href="pathImportExport.htm">Import a path</a> from a file. </li>

<li><a href="pathEditMode.htm">Edit a path</a>. </li>

<li>Generate a path from the edge of a <a href="shapes.htm">shape</a>. See the <a href="edgeEditMode.htm">edge edit mode</a> for details. </li>



<p>Paths by themselves don't do much. They are usually used in conjunction with <a href="dummies.htm">dummies</a> and other objects to obtain the desired effect. To move an object along a path, a dummy first needs to be assigned to the path, then the object can be attached to the dummy which will follow the path's intrinsic movement. Refer to the section on <a href="dummies.htm">dummies</a> for more details.<br>
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<p>Paths are <a href="renderableObjects.htm">renderable objects</a>, this means that paths can be <em>seen</em> by <a href="visionSensors.htm">vision sensors</a>. The <a href="pathShaping.htm">path shaping functionality</a> however needs to be enabled. The renderable property of a path can be altered in the <a href="commonPropertiesDialog.htm">object common properties</a>.<br>
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<p>Some path data can be recorded by graph objects. Refer to <a href="graphs.htm">graphs</a> and <a href="dataStreamTypes.htm">graph data stream types</a> for more information about how to record path data.<br>
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<h3 class=recommendedTopics>Recommended topics</h3>

<li><a href="apiFunctionListCategory.htm#PathObject">Related API functions</a></li>
<li><a href="pathsControlPointsAndBezierPoints.htm">Path control points and Bezier points</a></li>
<li><a href="pathPositionCalculationMethod.htm">Path position and length calculation method</a></li>
<li><a href="pathMovementAlongAPath.htm">Movement along a path</a></li>
<li><a href="pathShaping.htm">Path shaping</a></li>
<li><a href="pathPropertiesDialog.htm">Path properties</a></li>
<li><a href="pathImportExport.htm">Path import/export operations</a></li>
<li><a href="pathEditMode.htm">Path edit mode</a></li>
<li><a href="dummies.htm">Dummies</a></li>

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